From seven hilltop settlements to 15 villages: Ponu Papou celebrates Bisingai journey

1 hour ago 6

ADVERTISE HERE

By Shikin Louis

BAU, June 6: What began as seven hilltop settlements on Mount Singai has today grown into 15 villages with a population of up to 18,000 people — a remarkable journey celebrated through the Ponu Papou held in conjunction with Singai Cultural Carnival 2026.

The Ponu Papou is a traditional Bisingai communal ritual of renewal and restoration, historically performed when villages faced hardship, poor harvests or social disturbances. It was believed to restore harmony and balance between humans, nature and the spiritual world, while bringing back peace, prosperity and well-being to the community.

Today, it serves as a cultural symbol of identity, unity and continuity among the Bisingai people, and is re-enacted through a symbolic procession during the carnival.

Officiating at the event held in Kampung Barieng, Deputy Minister of Transport (Riverine and Marine) Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said the procession reflects the deep historical roots of the community, which originated from Mount Singai where seven longhouse settlements once stood.

“The history of the Singai community comes from Mount Singai. That is where our ancestors lived for generations,” he said during a doorstep interview.

Henry said the original settlements were Saga (now Kampung Sagah), Daun (Kampung Daun), Giyang (historical longhouse area for the modern Sudoh cluster), Tuben (ancestral root name for parts of Kampung Apar), Puot (ancestral root name for parts of Kampung Segong), Sombu (Kampung Atas) and Sagong/Sagong (Kampung Bobak Sajong), each with its own barouk — the traditional Bidayuh institution serving as a centre of authority, decision-making and ritual life.

“To us, the barouk is very significant. It is the centre of authority. Meetings were held there, decisions were made there, and it was also where rituals were conducted,” he said.

Henry, who is also Tasik Biru assemblyman, said the gradual movement of the community from Mount Singai to lower settlements began around the late 19th century, following the arrival of Catholic missionaries in 1885, when early Christian influences started taking root among several families on the mountain.

He said this marked a turning point, as communities slowly moved downhill to form the present-day villages around Mount Singai.

As a result, village structures expanded and evolved into what is now 15 villages with a population of about 15,000 to 18,000 people.

Henry noted that only three traditional barouks remain in use today — in Kampung Barieng, Kampung Atas and Kampung Sudoh — with only two still maintaining ritual practices.

He added that some baruks still preserve historical tengkorak as part of their ancestral heritage, although ritual practices involving them have largely been discontinued.

The items, he said, remain under customary protection and are not removed or publicly displayed.

Henry also highlighted the uniqueness of the Bisingai dialect, saying researchers have yet to identify another community elsewhere that speaks the same language.

“We can find Jagoi communities on both sides of the border, and other Bidayuh groups elsewhere, but until today we have not found another community that speaks Bisingai,” he said.

He further highlighted traditional Gawai practices among the Bidayuh community, saying celebrations in the past were closely tied to the harvest season and community survival.

Essential items such as rice, tuak, lemang and traditional preserved food like kasam ikan were considered must-haves during Gawai celebrations, reflecting a way of life dependent entirely on agricultural yield rather than the cash economy.

“When harvest was good, Gawai could be properly celebrated. If there was no good harvest, celebrations would be scaled down,” he said.

Henry said events such as Ponu Papou, organised by Persatuan Pewaris Adat Asal Singai Bau (PA’AS), play a crucial role in ensuring younger generations understand their origins and ancestral struggles.

“Our ancestors lived on the mountain, farmed down below, and carried harvests back up. It was a hard life. Today, we must not forget that history,” he said.

The 4km procession featured eight contingents moving from Balai Raya Barieng through Opai, Pungu Sagang, Pigarang and Tigua before returning to the starting point, drawing strong participation from the community.

The parade also symbolises the journey of Kampung Barieng and Kampung Segong, which were once part of the same settlement but remain closely linked through shared heritage and tradition.

At the end of the competition, Biro Wanita Kampung Segong emerged champion, taking home a RM500 cash prize and a certificate.

Also present were Bau District Officer Eddy Nayoi; Singai Cultural Carnival 2026 organising chairman Edid Ngupel; Pemanca Bidayuh in Bau, Robert Tom; Penghulu in Singai, Morris John Siren; and Kampung Barieng village chief KK Felix Runya. — DayakDaily

Read Entire Article